Hull has been bursting with festive cheer this December thanks to two brilliant events from Hull Training and Adult Education (HTAE), which drew in families, learners and plenty of Christmas spirit.
Things kicked off at The Freedom Centre on Preston Road, where visitors stepped straight into the magical world of Aslan’s Winter Narnia Extravaganza. Families wandered through beautifully themed rooms, met the White Witch, and enjoyed everything from snow cannons to an indoor ice rink. There were snow‑globe selfies, excited children dashing between activities, and a real sense of magic in the air.
Workshops kept everyone busy too, with -
- Narnian keepsake boxes
- winter wreaths
- Christmas clay crafts
- storytelling sessions
that brought the whole adventure to life. The day was packed, joyful and wonderfully snowy (even if the weather outside didn’t quite match!).
Just a couple of days later, the festive fun continued as HTAE’s three‑day Christmas Festival of Learning opened its doors at The Avenues Adult Education Centre. The building was buzzing from the moment it began, with learners getting stuck into Christingle crafts, hand‑sewn decorations, digital card design, stag and robin papercutting, embroidery, weaving, macramé and more. Learner‑led stalls added even more character, with handmade goodies and lots of friendly chat.
Alongside the crafts, visitors also had the chance to boost their Digital, Maths and English skills in fun Functional Skills tasters — including Canva creations and even festive WhatsApp stickers. Workshops filled quickly, but there was still space across the three days for plenty of festive making and learning.
As the Festival wrapped up, the centre was covered in glitter, clay creations, willow stars, tea‑light snowmen and heaps of handmade festive treasures. Staff thanked everyone who joined in — whether they attended a workshop, ran a stall or just dropped in for a mince pie — and gave a special shout‑out to the HTAE team who worked so hard to make both events such a great success.